Father, to know You is to know the way to eternal life. Help us to hold fast to the directions we receive through Your Word. Thank You for sending Jesus who bridged the gap that stood between heaven and earth. And thank You that, because of Your mercy, we have entrance into heaven as we walk over Your bridge of mercy and forgiveness. Amen.

Father, we know there is a deeper work within our soul which cannot be accomplished by mere physical exercise. Just as we train our bodies to submit to a rigorous routine of endurance, abstinence, and sacrifice, we must apply the same training tools to bring our spirits into submission to Your will for our lives. We must train ourselves to be godly. Though physical training is of value in this life, godliness has value for all things, and holds promise not only for the present life but also the life to come. Help us to pursue this noble task in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Father, we’re abundantly grateful for our earthly dwellings where we find pleasure, companionship, comfort, rest and sustenance. If we’re not intentional, we will give more time and affection to our temporal home than our future eternal home. Perhaps it’s because we’re living in the here and now and the future seems so distant and unfamiliar. Help us not to fear the future nor foolishly think it will not come, but to embrace it so that we are prepared when that moment comes. May our heart’s yearning, our primary focus, and our physical labors also have heavenly goals each day as we seek to live for You daily. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Father, just as we hunger and thirst for physical substance, intensify our hunger and thirst for godly discernment, spiritual knowledge, and righteous living. Jesus declared, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Only as we regularly nurture our spiritual appetite will we delve into the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Through the daily grind of life the inexhaustible truths revealed in Your Word brighten our outlook and make certain of our eternal hope, while they also teach us discernment so that we know good from evil, those who are genuine from those who are impostors. Jesus is the living bread for hungry souls so it is our prayer that we look to Him to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Amen.

Loving Father, we who claim to be Your children recognize Your voice and choose to listen and follow You. Many other voices beckon and personalities charm but Your divine love surpasses all earthly images because of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, who laid down His life for us. Your love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all. I lay it all down, take up the cross of Jesus and follow after You through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.